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How to Rangle Dangling Modifiers

by C. M. Clifton

The three main types of sentence errors are fragments, run-ons, and
dangling modifiers. Fragments are incomplete sentences that are presented
as complete sentences. Run-ons are two or more sentences that have been
incorrectly joined. Dangling modifiers are misplaced parts of a sentence
that usually end up causing confusion in readers. This article takes a
closer look at dangling modifiers.

Although dangling modifiers are the most common of modifier errors,
there are also misplaced modifiers and squinting modifiers. A dangling
modifier is created when a modifier does not logically or grammatically
describe anything in a sentence. The noun or pronoun to which a phrase or
clause refers to is either in the wrong place or missing, causing
confusion.

Here are a couple of examples of dangling modifiers:

After opening the window, the room grew cold.

Walking downstairs, the doorbell rang.

Revised, the sentences would read like the following:

After I opened the window, the room grew cold.

As I was walking downstairs, the doorbell rang.

Misplaced Modifiers

A misplaced modifier is created when the modifier looks as if it is
describing the wrong word in the sentence. Modifiers should be placed as
close as possible to the word it modifies. When a word, phrase, or clause
is placed too far from the word it modifies, the sentence might fail to
convey its intended meaning. When this happens, the modifier is considered
misplaced.

Here are a few examples of misplaced modifiers:

He almost ate all of the leftovers from last night's dinner. ("Almost"
is a misplaced word.)

The teacher explained how her grading scale worked on Wednesday. ("On
Wednesday" is a misplaced phrase.)

I bought a case of bottled water at the supermarket that cost $5.00.
("That cost $5.00" is a misplaced clause.)

The revised sentences would read like the following:

He ate almost all of the leftovers from last night's dinner.

On Wednesday, the teacher explained how her grading scale worked.

I bought a case of bottled water that cost $5.00 at the supermarket.

Squinting Modifiers

A squinting modifier occurs when a modifier might refer to either a
preceding or a following word which creates a possibly confusing sentence.

Here is an example of a squinting modifier:

She said when she was on her way to the supermarket that she would like
to buy some fruit.

Revised, the sentence would read like the following:

She said that she would like to buy some fruit when she was on her way
to the supermarket.

Or, perhaps:

When she was on her way to the supermarket, she said she would like to
buy some fruit.

Always be sure to edit your short story, essay, novel, or whatever
piece of writing you are preparing to present in its best light because
editing allows you to find dangling modifiers and other errors that might
occur in your writing.

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